Truck-body



Patented Oct. 28, I91SI.

Kw2/W17 762/22 my 4102 :j/#f/ TRUCK BODY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 1919. v

i: L- t D. IVI. GILLESPIE.

il I: I

DEAN'M. GILLEsIE, or DENVER, coLonAJJo.

TRUCK-BODY.

Specification of Letters Patent. i

Application filed February 8, 1919. Serial No. 275,711.

To all whom t mag/ concern.'

Be it known that I, DEAN M. GILLEsPna, a citizen of the United States,residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Truck-Bodies, of whichthe followin is a full, clear, and eX- act description, refgerence beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and especially to the bodies ofmotor trucks and its main objects are the provision of a body of greatlightness Which shall bepeculiarly adapted for the carrying of longpoles, timbers, spars, masts, logs, pipes, casings and the like, whilebeing not incapacitated from handling more general merchandise. Theparticular objects in View are cheapness of construction, reduction inweight, and convenience in loading and unloading.

In-the drawings accompanying and form- `ing part of this application Ihave shown one embodiment of my invention although it will be understoodthat the drawing is illustrative only and not limiting upon me sincemany departures therefrom can be made within the scope of my inventiveidea. In these drawings Figure 1 represents .a side elevation and Fig. 2a plan view of a truck and body embodying my improvements; Fig. 3 is arear end elevation of the body; and Fig, 4 is a sectional view on theline 4-4 of Fig. 2. l y

My improved body is not limited to use with any one make or constructionof truck although for purposes of illustration I have shown a standardtype having a chassis frame consisting of longitudinal lmembers 1, 1 andtransverse members 2. The truck is also provided'with a drivers cab 3,located at a point intermediate of the wheel-base4 and usually (if notalways) having a width at least as great as that of the chassis.

My improved frame comprises longitudinal members 5, 5, at least twoinnumber and preferably resting upon and bolted. or clamped to the members1, 1; together with a plurality of transverse horizontal members orbolsters 6, 6 rigidly connected thereto at spaced points and projectinglaterally at each side well beyond the limits of the cab. Each end ofeach bolster is provided with a stirrup 7 receiving the upright stake 8,which is also preferably extended a short I the cab because of thedistance-below the stirru'p as shown at 9. The rearmost bolster is alsoprovided with additional stirrups l0, 10, for receiving the uprightmembers 11, 11 of atailend gate 12. The foremost bolster is located onlya short distance from the cab and above the same there is located ahead-end gate 13 whose upright members 14, 14 extend laterally a slightdistance (such as one inch) beyond the line of the cab. In the presentembodiment the head gate is secured by having its uprights 14 boltedboth to the members 5 and 6 (see Fig. 4).

The tail gate is made narrower than the head gate so that when a load oflong material, such as oil-well casing, masts or Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

pipes, is placed on the truck and chained i forms the advantage ofincreasing the stability of the load, facilitating the maneuvering ofthe truck by reducing the spread of the load, and preventing the forwardends of the members from interfering with the cab, lights, etc. Thisload is frequently more than three times the length of the trucks wheelbase.

vThe portion of the bolsters lying between the limits of the two gatesis covered with a flooring 15 rigidly secured thereto, and 1s preferablytapered correspondingly to the width of the gates. The projecting endsof the bolsters are thus left entirely free and long material such asthe oil-line pipes shown in dotted li-nes in the drawing 1s carried onlthe bolsters alone beyond the iioor boards which facilitates theloading of the same, especially by hand, and renders it easler to applythe chains. The projecting lower ends of the stakes facilitate theattachment of the chains. The extension of the load past the sides ofthe cab enables the center of gravity of the same to be broughtsufficiently forward of the rear axle to avoid upsetting of the truckvon going upgrade, while the Widest part of the same being in front ofthe driver and hence in `easy View minimizes the danger of collision.This construction also saves several hundred pounds in weight over anyother with which I am familiar. Heavy pipes and timbers are unableto'mar or demolish gate 13. Of course incarrying only 'long members theHoor 15 and the like adjuncts of safe and pleasant is left vacant, butusually there are accompanying bolts, nails, parts, or fittings whichcan well he carried there.

I have shown. and preferably provide a tool box, located beneath thefloor and accessible either through a trap door 17 or a side door 18,the latter to he used when the former is obstructed by a load. I havealso shown the head gate 13 as spaced from the cah 3 a sufficientdistance to receive a spare tire, a concave rack or sling 20 beingprovided therefor. The tire thus lies inside the space defined by theload.

My improved body does not interfere with the use Ofmudguards, runningboards,

operation, and lends itself readily to the carrying of generalmerchandise merely by providing the bolster lends with temporary floorand sides. It will be understood that I donot restrict myself to theparticular construction shown and described-except as recited in theclaims.

Having thus described `my invention,

what I claim is end gates carried by the ends of said body and eachhaving a width less than the distance between opposite stakes, the spacedefined between said stakes and the .adjacent margins of the gates beingadapted to' receive the long material Vwhich is to be hauled, thetail-gate being narrower than the head-gate and the head-gate beingindependent of and wider than said cab.

2. In a body for automobile trucks, a plurality of longitudinal membersadapted to `be attached to the chassis at the rear of -long material,a.tool box located certain of said holsters, a trap door inside A:thelimits of said Hoor giving access to said the drivers cab, a plurality'of transverse holsters rigidly attached to said longitudinal members atspaced intervals and projecting laterally beyond the drivers cab,upright stakes attached to the outer ends of said holsters, rigid gatescarried by said body at its forward and rearward ends, the width of eachgate being less than the distance between opposite stakes so as todefine a space for the reception of pipes, lumber, or other longmaterial, and longitudinal floor boards attached to said holsters insidethe area defined between said gates, the ends of said holstersprojecting freely therebeyond.

3. In a body for automobile trucks, a frame work including a pluralityof longitudinally spaced, transversely-projecting horizontal holsters,stirrups carried by the ends of said holsters, upright removable stakesin said stirrups, a rigid rectangular head gate of less Width than thedistance hetween` opposite stakes, a removable tailgate of less widththan the head-gate, a tapering floor secured to said holstersandfrestricted to the space defined lbetween said gates, whereby theends-of said holsters are left free, and a drivers cab located forwardof and; narrower than said head-gate and disconnected therefrom,

4f. In an automobile truck, a body having. transverse holsters and lontudinal floor` boards, the holsters projecting freely beyond the floorat each side, upright frames carried by the rearmost and foremostbolsters, substantially in line with the edges of the floor7 uprightstakes carried byl the ends of said holsters outside o fsaid frames, and

defining therewith a load-carrying space for etween toolbox, and asecond door in the side of said tool boX located between said holsters.Inftesti'monywhereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

. DEAN M. GILLE'SPIE.

